Background
Job Purpose and Organizational Context
The International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder network and community initiative that includes governments of donor and partner countries, multilateral institutions and civil society and private sector organisations. IATI maintains an open data standard that aims to make information about qualitative and quantitative development and humanitarian activities easier to access, use, share and understand. IATI’s current strategic priorities are spelled out in the 2020-2025 IATI Strategic Plan and focus on improving data quality, promoting data use, strengthening the IATI Standard and reinvigorating its community of publishers and members. A key focus in 2025 is the development of a new Strategic Plan for 2026-30, involving extensive community consultation online and in-person.
The IATI Governing Board approves the annual, results-based plan & budget allocation within the framework set by the Members Assembly and has responsibility for overseeing the IATI Secretariat in its task to implement and deliver against these workplan priorities.
The IATI Secretariat carries out policy, technical and support functions in line with the cooperation agreements respectively with the Governing Board by UNDP as Policy and Technology Secretariat and UNOPS as provider of operational, financial and legal support. The principal recipients of these services are the IATI Governing Board, which serves in a governing capacity on behalf of the about 100 Members of IATI, and the broader IATI community. The secretariat is headed by the IATI Executive Director, who leads the Secretariat and ensures the overall coordination of its work based on periodically approved workplans.
UNDP is responsible for providing Policy and Technology Secretariat services, offering specialisms in Policy, Governance, Engagement, Communications and Advocacy, Data Policy, and Operations. In addition, UNDP is responsible for the provision of technology services, through a contracted partnership with dedicated technology provider Open Data Services Cooperative (ODSC).
Duties and Responsibilities
The Engagement Specialist works primarily on the strategic objective of reinvigorating IATI’s engagement among the members and across external stakeholders. Engagement touches on all scopes of Secretariat work, supporting technical consultation as well as knowledge exchange and onboarding for new IATI focal points, publishers and users. The engagement specialist will work across the secretariat team.
1. Coordinate and Plan strategic engagements and priorities for resource mobilization efforts
Identify key engagement opportunities for IATI ED and Boards engagement. Consolidate, review and support the development of IATI’s engagement plan considering intergovernmental engagements including the GA, HLPF, G20, WB Annual Meetings etc. where IATI Senior management participates. Work across the IATI secretariat and members to build relationships with IATI’s current and prospective partners, including proposal writing, reporting on impact, and managing grant deliverables. Identify strategic alliances with partner organizations, for example through the creation of joint knowledge products or mutual attendance at events. Coordinate, edit/review, and quality assure substantive materials such as briefs from IATI team ahead of the IATI ED or Board’s engagements and meetings.
2. Create a membership engagement plan – which will actively prioritise engaging existing members to optimize on Members knowledge and networks
Lead outreach efforts for IATI Connect and Communities, creating an engagement plan and by providing support to attracting new audiences to IATI Connect. Maintain a calendar of internal and external events and develop a plan of engagement for IATI Secretariat, Board, Members and the wider community. Ensure members are proactively informed in advance and encouraged to engage in activities such as consultations, discussions and new Working Groups. Develop engagement strategies, knowledge products and other materials together with policy specialist team to enhance IATI’s visibility, value and influence for current members and prospective partners. Leverage UNDP’s central and regional bureau and country office structures to extend the reach of the Secretariat and engage with Partner Country focal points and beyond (CSOs, parliamentarians, local development networks, etc.).
3. Manage IATI Connect and respond to user feedback by implementing updates when required.
Act as focal point for IATI Connect, overseeing day-to-day management of the platform and supporting its community of users. Liaise with policy specialists and technical delivery partners to ensure the platform is continually improved and properly responds to the needs of the wider community of users. Support IATI Connect Communities in translating their strategic goals into concrete projects. Draw lessons learnt, best practices and identify efficiencies to support the implementation of IATI strategic plan. Review and update the IATI Connect Roadmap to optimise technical usability and overall user-journey in collaboration with technical delivery partners, ensuring alignment and complementarity with other IATI platforms. Expand the user base of IATI Connect, drawing in new audiences and in this way contributing to more inclusive dialogue and community-driven engagement. Establish official IATI Working Groups on IATI Connect upon request of the Board and advise Board focal points on managing and maintaining them.4. Lead Event Management and logistics coordination
Plan and lead coordination for flagship events annually, such as Members’ Assembly/ies, Community Exchange/s and/or quarterly regional/stakeholder meetings. Provide substantive and operational support to virtual and in-person community events, such as IATI’s recurrent Info Sessions and Board-Drop-Ins etc. Plan and deliver logistics for IATI engagement at external events e.g. UNGA, Financing for Development Conference 4 Plan and lead the coordination of IATI workshops and training events for IATI data users and publishers.
5. Perform General Secretariat duties and responsibilities and facilitate knowledge management
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary to ensure corporate compliance and for the efficient functioning of the IATI Secretariat. These include but are not limited to participating in project management activities such as work planning, monitoring and reporting, periodic discussions within the policy specialist team and with technology delivery partners. Drafting position papers, substantive briefings, policy papers, communications materials etc. within the broader context of open data, transparency, development cooperation, as requested. Contributing to knowledge management efforts of the Secretariat using IATI Connect as a primary forum for knowledge exchange. Amplify agreed communications messaging for the initiative through social media.Institutional Arrangement
Supporting several different work scopes across the Secretariat, this role reports to IATI Executive Director, and is accountable for implementing IATI engagement policy/plan that leads to increased engagement.
Competencies
Please refer to the competency framework site for the entire list of competencies and further explanations.
CORE
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:
LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area
Name
Definition
External Relations &
Advocacy
Event planning and execution
Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate
Digital
Collective Intelligence Design
Ability to design, lead or manage processes that help a collective to become smarter together by bringing together diverse groups of people, data, and technology. Ability to define and articulate why and how collective intelligence can add value to development programming (understanding problems; finding solutions; decision making and mobilizing action; monitoring progress in real time, learning and adapting) Being able to integrate different types of data (real- time, ‘ground-truth’ and novel data) to unlock fresh insights. Understand guidelines and principles around data privacy, ethics and protection. Increase diversity of inputs – and look beyond the 'usual suspects', ability to navigate and manage a variety of actors, appreciate the diversity in perspectives, opinions, expertise. Ability to facilitate platforms or sessions where people can contribute by providing their views and ideas independently and freely. Being people-centred: ensure people understand and can determine how their data is used. Feedback inputs and insights to empower people, don't extract data
Business Development
Knowledge Facilitation
Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
HR - Learning anddevelopment
Digital learning & Development
Knowledge of digital learning methods and ability to design and develop digital learning programmes.
Digital
Co-creation
Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice or create knowledge together.
Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into to them as a source for creativity.
Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing.
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness
Effectiveness
Capacities to enhance aid transparency.
Required Skills and Experience
Min. Academic Education
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Social Sciences, Knowledge Management, or related discipline(s) is required, OR
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant Work experience
Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of professional working experience in international development, open data, training or knowledge management, preferably within an international organization or government setting is required.
Required skills and competencies Previous experience developing and managing knowledge management systems, strategies, or platforms.
Previous experience organizing and managing large‐scale events and workshops.
Desired additional
skills and competencies
Professional experience in the field of knowledge management including community of practitioners. Experience in planning and delivering webinars or learning courses. Previous experience working with international, multi‐stakeholder processes or initiatives. Previous experience working in an engagement role within the UN system, and familiarity with its structures and processes Previous experience in planning and leading coordination for flagship events Proven experience in drafting position papers, substantive briefings, policy papers, communications materials.Required Language(s) (at working level)
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of one other official UN language would be an asset.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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